August 28 2022
August 28th 2022
Old Testament: Proverbs 25:2-10 “It is the glory of God to conceal things”
Psalm: Psalm 1 “The wicked will not stand in the judgment”
Epistle: Hebrews 13:1-17 “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever”
Gospel: Luke 14:1-14 “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled”
Sermon Text: Hebrews 13:1-17
Sermon Title: “The Same”
Grace to you and peace, from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
“The Lord is my helper, what can man do to me”? (Hebrews 13:6b) “Let us … bear the reproach that He endured”. (Hebrews 13:13b) “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever”. (Hebrews 13:8) These are the main texts for the sermon this day.
In the 17 verses of the Epistle reading this morning there are 12 imperatives. What is an imperative you may ask? In Scripture, it often is a command of God, that instructs, exhorts, or warns us how we are to respond to the grace of God shown us in Christ Jesus our Lord; in other words, how we are to live as Christians in this world. In other places, it is something that needs to be accomplished, but not necessarily by you; in this context, by God. Keep in mind this distinction as we go through our text this morning.
The author begins by saying “let brotherly love continue”. (Hebrews 13:1) This verse cites something we should already be doing and declares it is to be an ongoing activity. If you recall, Christian love is not about feelings, but means doing what is best for the other person, no matter the cost to you. It will involve self-sacrifice and may even involve the type of painful discipline as we talked about last week, such as being rejected by others for speaking God’s Word to a particular situation.
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares”. (Hebrews 13:2) Such hospitality was certainly necessary in Biblical times as there were very few inns or hotels where one could stay, and the ones that did exist were not usually safe. A biblical example of this is found in Genesis 18, when Abraham entertained three angels who announced that “about this time next year, Sarah, your wife shall have a son”. (Genesis 18:10a) This kind of hospitality was especially emphasized for strangers, who were fellow believers/Christians.
“Remember those in prison as though in prison with them and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body”. (Hebrews 13:3) Here the author is not talking about common criminals, though as Christians we can bear witness to our faith in Christ before them too. But here, he is talking about fellow Christians who are imprisoned or who are otherwise treated shamefully because of their faith in Jesus Christ.
When we see other Christians in such trouble, we remember that we too are subject to such mistreatment; remembering Paul’s exhortation to “have the same care for one another; for if one member suffers, we all suffer”. (1st Corinthians 12:26a) And Peter who said “if you do good and suffer for it, endure, for this is a gracious thing in the sight of God”. (1st Peter 2:20b)
“Let the marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous”. (Hebrews 13:4) It seems there were issues with God’s view of marriage being between one man and one woman, faithfulness for life, even in ancient times. He warns against all forms of sex outside of marriage, whether adultery, extra marital affairs or fornication, any other sexual activity outside of marriage. God’s gift of sex brings blessings only in marriage. Despite what our culture preaches, we are called to the same faithfulness in marriage and to “lead a sexually pure and decent life” outside of it. (See 6th Commandment)
“Keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have”. (Hebrews 13:5a) This is about the 9th and 10th commandments, as the KJV translates the words “love of money” here as “covetousness”. So, contentment is the opposite of coveting. Through this craving or lust for money and possessions, “some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs”. (1st Timothy 6:10b) “No one can serve two masters … You cannot serve both God and money”. (Matthew 6:24)
By the way, this love of money easily finds its way into the heart of people of all economic backgrounds. Instead of accumulating all that we can, as Christians, we are called to focus on the eternal things. “For He has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. So, we can confidently say; the Lord is my helper; I will not fear, what can man do to me”. (Hebrews 13:5b-6) He knows all that you need and gladly provides it. As Jesus said, “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you”. (Matthew 6:33)
“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the Word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life”. (Hebrews 12:7) These were the ones responsible for teaching and preaching the truth of God’s law and Gospel and to refute any false teachings that had crept their way into the churches. As Paul said, “keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching”. (1st Timothy 4:16a) In “imitating their way of life and faith” (Hebrews 13:7b) some would be imprisoned and even martyred.
How can they, how can we, have such confidence in the face of trials and persecution; threats of being impoverished and even killed for their faith? Because, “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday and today and forever”. (Hebrews 13:8) He is true God from all eternity, creator and sustainer of all things, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary; who came to this earth to give His life to atone for the sins of the whole world; rose from the dead on the third day, so that all who believe in Him would not perish eternally in hell, but rather live forever with Him.
He also gave us His Word; the Holy Scriptures, the Bible as His perfect inerrant witness to His life, death and bodily resurrection. “The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword … discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart”. (Hebrews 4:12) Since His Word is true and He does not change, “do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace (which alone has the power to save us.) and not by foods which have not benefitted those devoted to them”. (Hebrews 13:9)
Any teaching that adds to, takes away from or contradicts the Bible, is a teaching that is to be avoided at all costs. According to CFW Walther, in his “Church and Ministry”, which we are studying in Bible Class, even though we know there are true Christians, even in heterodox churches; which are churches that have significant errors in their beliefs, but do not totally deny God’s Word; “every believer, must at the peril of losing their salvation, flee all false teachers, avoid all heterodox congregations, and acknowledge and adhere to orthodox congregations and their orthodox pastors, wherever such may be found”. (Thesis VIII)
The Scriptures are clear in countless places that we are to flee/avoid such churches and teachers. The Apostle Paul wrote, “I appeal to you … watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine you have been taught. Avoid them”! (Romans 16:17) “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different Gospel … if anyone preaches to you a different Gospel, let him be accursed”. (Galatians 1:6, 9) “As for a person who stirs up divisions, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him; knowing that such a person is warped and sinful”. (Titus 3:10-11a)
The Apostle John also wrote “everyone … who does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God … if anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting”. (2nd John 9-10) “Test the spirits, to see if they are from God, for many false prophets have gone into the world”. (1st John 4:1) The Apostle Peter also warned “there will be false teachers among you who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction”. 2nd Peter 2:1)
And of course our Lord Jesus taught us, “beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves”. (Matthew 7:15) It is clear from these words and many others, that Christ our Lord cares about right doctrine and teaching; therefore, we too must care about them. “As the Psalmist declared, “Blessed is the man … whose delight is in the Lord and on His law he meditates day and night”. (Psalm 1:1-2)
The writer of Hebrews continues, “We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin, are burned outside the camp. So, Jesus also suffered outside the gate, in order to sanctify the people through His own blood”. (Hebrews 13:10-12) The animal sacrifices of the Old Testament point ahead to Jesus’ once for all sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of the sins of the whole world.
The Hebrews were being tempted to return to their previous life, before coming to Christ, which would be a rejection of all that Christ Jesus had done for them. This would be a horrible tragedy, so the writer of Hebrews exhorts them, “therefore, let us go to Him outside the camp (being rejected by the multitude of unbelievers) and (willingly) bear the reproach He endured”. (Hebrews 13:13) Bearing the reproach of Christ, is nothing else than “denying ourselves, taking up our crosses (daily), and following Him”. (Mark 8:34) “For here (on planet earth) we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come” (Hebrews 13:14) which is “the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem”. (Hebrews 12:22)
How foolish they would be, how foolish we would be, if we were to reject Christ and trade our heavenly treasure and inheritance for a few moments (months/years) of earthly peace and safety. That was the temptation of the Hebrews and that is our temptation too; but this earth will not last forever. Jesus said, “heaven and earth will pass away” (Matthew 24:35) and “According to His promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells”. (2nd Peter 3:13)
“Thru Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God that is the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name. Do not neglect to do good and share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God”. (Hebrews 13:15-16) There is no more need of the sacrifice of animals because “we have been justified by His blood … saved from the wrath of God” (Romans 5:9) We have peace with God; “by the blood of His cross”. (Colossians 1:20b)
Grateful for the salvation we have received from Christ, we will gladly do these two things the author of Hebrews calls sacrifices. We will offer up a “sacrifice of praise to God”, thanking Him for the grace and mercy shown to us by forgiving all of our sins and giving us the hope of eternal life. Likewise, in thankfulness for all the benefits He shows to us, we will “do good and share” with our neighbors; for this is a fruit/consequence of our redemption. As Luther said, “the Christian is not liberated from doing good works, but free from the foolish perception that justification (salvation) is acquired by them”.
The last thing the author of Hebrews declares before His benediction and final greetings is this; “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch on your souls, as those who will have to give an account”. (Hebrews 13:17a) “For those who teach will be judged with greater strictness”. (James 3:1) “Let them do this (teaching) with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you”. (Hebrews 13:17b)
This is one of many verses used in the Table of Duties in the Small Catechism under the heading “What pastors owe their hearers and what hearers owe their pastors”. Among other things, pastors “must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also rebuke those who contradict it”. (Titus 1:9) As Luther put it, “he is to see to it that no one is misled”. Among other things, hearers are to “respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves”. (1st Thessalonians 5:12-13)
In closing, let us hear the benediction to this Apostolic letter to the Hebrews, “Now, may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight; through Jesus Christ (our Lord) to whom be glory, forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21)
“The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”. (Philippians 4:7) Amen.